Best High Schools in Zip Code 98840

This analysis covers three public high schools serving grades 9-12 in the rural Okanogan School District in Washington (zip code 98840), which ranks in the lower-middle tier of state districts and serves a student population with significant economic need.

Okanogan High School is the district's standout traditional high school, showing strong improvement and academic performance, particularly in English Language Arts where it far exceeds state averages, and it has historically achieved graduation rates above 95%. In contrast, the two alternative schools, Okanogan Outreach Alternative School and Okanogan Alternative High School, serve at-risk students and face profound challenges, with very low graduation and high dropout rates, especially at Okanogan Alternative High which had a 19% graduation rate.

While Okanogan High demonstrates that strong outcomes are possible in the community, the district overall lags behind the state in graduation and dropout rates, and math proficiency is an area of need across schools. The alternative schools show a stark difference in outcomes despite varying levels of per-student spending, indicating the complexity of serving high-need populations. Parents should note the significant performance gap between the traditional and alternative pathways within the same district.